Sexuality Education
Sexuality education is a lifelong process. It provides students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to develop positive attitudes towards sexuality, to take care of their sexual health, and to enhance their interpersonal relationships, now and in the future. In this curriculum, the term "sexuality education" includes relevant aspects of the concept of hauora, the process of health promotion, and the socio-ecological perspective. The term "sex education" generally refers only to the physical dimension of sexuality education.
Students will consider how the physical, social, mental and emotional, and spiritual dimensions of sexuality influence their well-being.
Through the socio-ecological perspective, students will critically examine the social and cultural influences that shape the ways people learn about and express their sexuality, for example, in relation to gender roles, the concept of body image, discrimination, equity, the media, culturally based values and beliefs, and the law.
Sexuality education is enhanced when supportive school policies and practices are developed, links with relevant community agencies are made, and students are helped to identify and access support.
| Students require a range of developmentally appropriate
learning opportunities in sexuality education. These include opportunities
to develop:
knowledge, understandings, and skills relating to sexual development
–physical, emotional, and social;
knowledge, understandings, and skills to enhance their sexual
and reproductive health
for example, knowledge about the process of conception and
the skills to make decisions that maintain and enhance their
sexual health;
personal and interpersonal skills and related attitudes, including
- the skills needed to examine people's attitudes,
values, and beliefs and their rights and responsibilities
- attitudes of respect for themselves and other
people
- attitudes of care and concern for themselves
and other people
- effective communication skills
- problem-solving and decision-making skills;
understandings and skills to enhance relationships
for example, in relation to friendship, love, families, and
parenting
|
Programmes for the prevention of sexual abuse are an important part of health
education. However, these must be balanced at all levels by separate sexuality
education programmes that emphasise the positive aspects of sexuality. To
ensure that students do not receive confusing or mixed messages, these two
programmes should not be taught concurrently or consecutively.
Classroom programmes must be sensitively developed so that they respect the diverse values and beliefs of students and of the community.
| Legislative Provisions for Sexuality Education in
Schools
The Education Standards Act 2001 repealed sections 105C and 105D
of the Education Act 1964. School boards of every state school must
now implement the health curriculum in accordance with section 60B
of the Education Act. Previously, schools had an option to exclude
the sexuality education components of the curriculum.
As outlined on page 53, at least once
every two years the school board is required to prepare a draft
statement about the delivery of the health curriculum and then to
consult the school community before the school adopts the statement.
The statement will include a clear description of the way in which
the school will implement sexuality education.
|
Achievement Objectives
|
|
|
|
